Sterically restricted tin phosphines, stabilized by weak intramolecular donor-acceptor interactions

Funding: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)Four related sterically restricted pen-substituted acenaphthenes have been prepared containing mixed tin phosphorus moieties in the proximal 5,6-positions (Acenap[SnR3][(PPr2)-Pr-i]; Acenap = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl; R-3 = Ph-3 (1), Ph2Cl (2), Me2Cl (3), Bu2Cl (4)). The degree of intramolecular P-Sn bonding within the series was investigated by X-ray crystallography, solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP/SBKJC/PCM) calculations. All members of the series adopt a conformation such that the phosphorus lone pair is located directly opposite the tin center, promoting an intramolecular donor acceptor P -> Sn type interaction. The extent of covalent bonding between Sn and P is found to be much greater in triorganotin chlorides 2-4 in comparison with the triphenyl derivative 1. Coordination of a highly electronegative chlorine atom naturally increases the Lewis acidity of the tin center, enhancing the Ip(P)-sigma*(Sn-Y) donor acceptor 3c-4e type interaction, as indicated by conspicuously short Sn-P peri distances and significant (1)J(P-31,Sn-119) spin spin coupling constants (SSCCs) in the range 740-754 Hz. Evidence supporting the presence of this interaction was also found in solid-state NMR spectra of some of the compounds which exhibit an indirect spin spin coupling on the same order of magnitude as observed in solution. DFT calculations confirm the increased covalent bonding between P and Sn in 2-4, with notable WBIs of ca. 0.35 obtained, in comparison to 0.1 in 1.PostprintPeer reviewe

Structural diversity in hybrid vanadium(IV) oxyfluorides based on a common building block

There are only limited reports on vanadium(IV) oxyfluorides (VOFs) with extended crystal structures. Here we expand and enrich the list of existing VOFs with a series of 14 new materials "VOF-n (n = 1-14)" prepared using ionothermal and solvothermal synthesis methods. All of these materials arise from the condensation of a dimeric structural motif. These VOFs can be classified into three groups depending on their key structural features; layer structures: VOF-1 "[HN2C7H6][V2O2F5]", VOF-2 "[HN2C4H4][V2O2F5]", VOF-3 "[HN2C3H4][V2O2F5]" and VOF-4 "V-2(N2C4H4)O2F4", ladder like structures: VOF-5 "[NH4(HN2C3H4)][V2O2F6]", VOF-6 "[K(HN2C3H4)][V2O2F6]", VOF-7 "[HNH2CH2CH3][VOF3]", VOF-8 "[HN2C7H6][VOF3]", VOF-9 "[H2N2C4H6][V2O2F6]", VOF-10 "beta-RbVOF3", VOF-11 "alpha-KVOF3", VOF-12 "beta-KVOF3", VOF-13 "[H-2(NH2)(2)(CH2)(2)][V2O2F6]", and a chain structure: VOF-14 "[H2N2C6H12][V2O2F7]". The crystal structures of VOF-n are presented, and their synthetic and structural relationships are discussed.PostprintPeer reviewe

A heterofunctional ligand approach for the preparation of high connectivity coordination polymers: combining a “bridge” and “pillar” in one ligand

Two of the most successful strategies for the preparation of three-dimensional coordination polymers and MOFs are reticular synthesis and pillaring. Here we present a new approach which combines aspects of both of these by employing a heterofunctional dicarboxylic and dipyridyl ligand, 2,5-di(pyridin-4-yl)terephthalic acid (H2L). The reaction of H2L with zinc(II) produces a non-interpenetrated 3D coordination polymer [ZnL(H2O)]n

Isolatable organophosphorus(III)-tellurium heterocycles

We are grateful to the University of St Andrews, the EPSRC and NSERC Canada for their financial support.A new structural arrangement Te3(RPIII)3 and the first crystal structures of organophosphorus(III)–tellurium heterocycles are presented. The heterocycles can be stabilized and structurally characterized by the appropriate choice of substituents in Tem(PIIIR)n (m=1: n=2, R=OMes* (Mes*=supermesityl or 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl); n=3, R=adamantyl (Ad); n=4, R=ferrocene (Fc); m=n=3: R=trityl (Trt), Mesor by the installation of a PV2N2 anchor in RPIII[TePV(tBuN)(μ‐NtBu)]2 (R=Ad, tBu).PostprintPeer reviewe

Bridging the gap : attractive 3c-4e interactions in peri-substituted acenaphthylenes

This work is supported by funding from the EPSRC UKA series of peri-substituted acenaphthylenes that contain mixed halogen-chalcogen functionalities at the 5,6-positions in 1-6 [Acenapyl[X](EPh) (Acenapyl = acenaphthylene-5,6-diyl; X = Br, I; E = S, Se, Te)] and chalcogen-chalcogen moieties in 7-11 [Acenap(EPh)(EPh) (Acenap = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl; E/E = S, Se, Te)] have been prepared from their corresponding acenaphthene analogues A1-A11 by utilising 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) for the dehydrogenation of the ethane backbone. The related dihalide compounds 13 and 14 Acenapyl[XX] (XX = BrBr, II) have also been prepared by following a similar procedure, and 1,2,5,6-tetrabromo-1,2-dihydroacenaphthylene A0 was prepared as an intermediate by following an alternative route to 13. The series of acenaphthylene compounds have remarkably similar molecular structures to their acenaphthene counterparts; they exhibit an expected increase in peri separation as heavier congeners occupy the close peri positions. The presence of the ethene bridge, however, naturally compresses the nearest bay angle as it increases the splay of the exocyclic peri atoms, thereby resulting in a minor increase in separation relative to equivalent acenaphthenes. The structures of 1-11, 13 and 14 are discussed and compared with previously reported analogous naphthalene and acenaphthene compounds. Similar to acenaphthene derivatives, aromatic ring conformations and the location of p-type lone pairs influences the geometry of the peri region. Under appropriate geometric conditions, quasi-linear three-body C-Ph-EZ (E = Te, Se, S; Z = Br/E) fragments provide an attractive component for the EZ interaction. DFT studies confirm the onset of formation of three-center, four-electron bonding, similar in extent to that observed in analogous acenaphthenes, despite an increase in the peri distances.PostprintPeer reviewe

Probing interactions through space using spin-spin coupling

The work in this project was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).The series of eight 5-(TeY)-6-(SePh)acenaphthenes (Y = Fp (2), Tol (3), An-p (4), An-o (5), Tp (6), Mes (7), Tip (8), Nap (9)) were prepared and structurally characterised by X-ray crystallography, solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) calculations. All members of the series, except 5, adopt a BA type configuration comparable to the parent compound 1 (Y = Ph), aligning the Te-CY bond along the mean acenaphthene plane and promoting a nonbonded Se...Te-CY 3c-4e type interaction to form to stabilise the molecule (G-dependence). 5 (Y = An-o) adopts a BC type conformation in the solid but DFT calculations show this optimises to BA. Indication of strong through-space peri-interactions between Te and Se are observed in the Se-77 and Te-125 NMR spectra, with J(Te, Se) spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) in the range -688 to -748 Hz. Evidence supporting the presence of this interaction was also found in solid-state NMR spectra of some of the compounds which exhibit an indirect spin-spin coupling on the same order of magnitude as observed in solution. In order to quantify the steric bulk of the aryl groups (Y), we introduce the crystallographic steric parameter (theta), the cone angle measured from the furthest H atoms lying on the edges of the cone to the Te atom located at its vertex. Modification to Y has no apparent influence over the conformation of the molecule, the degree of molecular distortion occurring in the acenaphthene backbone or the extent of 3c-4e interaction; peri-distances for all eight compounds are within 0.08 angstrom and no apparent correlation is observed between the steric bulk of Y (theta) and the Se-77 chemical shifts or J(Te, Se) SSCCs. In contrast, a good correlation is found between theta and Te-125 chemical shifts. DFT calculations performed on all members of the series confirm the comparable covalent bonding between Te and Se in the series, with WBIs of ca. 0.1 obtained. Natural bond orbital analysis shows a noticeable donor-acceptor interaction between a p-type lone pair on Se and a sigma*(Te-C) antibonding orbital, confirming the onset of 3c-4e type bonding.PostprintPostprintPeer reviewe

Noncovalent Interactions in Peri-Substituted Chalconium Acenaphthene and Naphthalene Salts: A Combined Experimental, Crystallographic, Computational, and Solid-State NMR Study

The work in this project was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). M.B. wishes to thank EaStCHEM and the University of St. Andrews for support.Twelve related monocation chalconium salts [{Nap(EPh)(E'Ph)Me}(+){CF3SO3}(-)] 2-4, [{Acenap(Br)(EPh)Me}{CF3SO3}(-)] 5-7, and [{Acenap(EPh)(E'Ph)Me}(+){CF3SO3}(-)] 8-13 have been prepared and structurally characterized. For their synthesis naphthalene compounds [Nap(EPh)(E'Ph)] (Nap = naphthalene-1,8-diyl; E/E' = S, Se, Te) N2-N4 and associated acenaphthene derivatives [Acenap(X)(EPh)]/[Acenap(EPh)(E'Ph)] (Acenap = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl; E/E' = S, Se, Te; X = Br) A5-A13 were independently treated with a single molar equivalent of methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (MeOTf). In addition, reaction of bis-tellurium compound A10 with 2 equiv of MeOTf afforded the doubly methylated dication salt [{Acenap(TePhMe)(2)}(2+){(CF3SO3)(2)}(2-)}] 14. The distortion of the rigid naphthalene and acenaphthene backbone away from ideal was investigated in each case and correlated in general with the steric bulk of the interacting atoms located at the proximal peri positions. Naturally, introduction of the ethane linker in acenaphthene compounds increased the splay of the bay region compared with equivalent naphthalene derivatives resulting in greater peri distances. The conformation of the aromatic rings and subsequent location of p-type lone pairs has a significant impact on the geometry of the peri region, with anomalies in peri separations correlated to the ability of the frontier orbitals to take part in attractive or repulsive interactions. In all but one of the monocations a quasi-linear three-body C-Me-E center dot center dot center dot Z (E = Te, Se, S; Z = Br/E) fragment provides an attractive component for the E center dot center dot center dot Z interaction. Density functional studies confirmed these interactions and suggested the onset of formation of three-center, four-electron bonding under appropriate geometric conditions, becoming more prevalent as heavier congeners are introduced along the series, The increasingly large J values for Se-Se, Te-Se, and Te-Te coupling observed in the Se-77 and Te-125 NMR spectra for 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 13 give further evidence for the existence of a weakly attractive through-space interaction.PostprintPeer reviewe

Synthetic and computational study of geminally bis(supermesityl) substituted phosphorus compounds

Reaction chemistry of an extremely sterically encumbered phosphinic chloride (Mes*)(2)P(=O) Cl (Mes* = 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl, supermesityl) was investigated. This compound, as well as other compounds bearing two supermesityl groups placed geminally at the central phosphorus atom, shows extremely low reactivity at the phosphorus centre. Nevertheless, some synthetically significant transformations were possible. Reduction with hydridic reagents under forcing conditions yielded the phosphine oxide (Mes*)(2)P(=O)H and a secondary phosphine Mes*(2,4-tBu(2)C(6)H(3))PH. Deprotonation of (Mes*)(2)P(=O)H gave the corresponding phosphinite, which afforded very crowded tertiary phosphine oxides (Mes*)(2)P(=O) R (R = Me and Et) on reactions with electrophiles. While the reaction of the phosphine Mes*(2,4-tBu(2)C(6)H(3))PH with sulfur was surprisingly facile (although under forcing conditions), we have been unable to chlorinate or deprotonate this phosphine. All new compounds were fully characterised with multinuclear NMR, IR, Raman, MS, microanalyses and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Our computations (B3LYP and M06-2X level) show that strain energies of (synthetically accessible) geminally substituted compounds are extremely high (180 to 250 kJ mol(-1)), the majority of the strain is stored as boat distortions to the phenyl rings in Mes* substituents

Synthetic and computational study of geminally bis(supermesityl) substituted phosphorus compounds

Reaction chemistry of an extremely sterically encumbered phosphinic chloride (Mes*)(2)P(=O) Cl (Mes* = 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl, supermesityl) was investigated. This compound, as well as other compounds bearing two supermesityl groups placed geminally at the central phosphorus atom, shows extremely low reactivity at the phosphorus centre. Nevertheless, some synthetically significant transformations were possible. Reduction with hydridic reagents under forcing conditions yielded the phosphine oxide (Mes*)(2)P(=O)H and a secondary phosphine Mes*(2,4-tBu(2)C(6)H(3))PH. Deprotonation of (Mes*)(2)P(=O)H gave the corresponding phosphinite, which afforded very crowded tertiary phosphine oxides (Mes*)(2)P(=O) R (R = Me and Et) on reactions with electrophiles. While the reaction of the phosphine Mes*(2,4-tBu(2)C(6)H(3))PH with sulfur was surprisingly facile (although under forcing conditions), we have been unable to chlorinate or deprotonate this phosphine. All new compounds were fully characterised with multinuclear NMR, IR, Raman, MS, microanalyses and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Our computations (B3LYP and M06-2X level) show that strain energies of (synthetically accessible) geminally substituted compounds are extremely high (180 to 250 kJ mol(-1)), the majority of the strain is stored as boat distortions to the phenyl rings in Mes* substituents.</p